A comprehensive plan to
support the development of
infrastructure required to drive
expansion of the State's
mining and energy sector has
been released by the Minister
for Mineral Resources and
Energy, Tom Koutsantonis.
In launching the State
Government's response to the
Resources and Energy Sector
Infrastructure Council (RESIC)
recommendations arising
from the 2011 Infrastructure
Demand Study (IDS), Mr
Koutsantonis said strategic
planning would be key to
the industry's success.
"This cross-government
approach will ensure government
agencies work with industry
to support the development
of infrastructure we know is
needed to keep driving our
economic expansion,
" he said.
"Growth of the resources
sector puts South Australia in
a position to become even
stronger economically and
more able to provide the
essential services that all
South Australians deserve.
"Infrastructure to further
support development is key. And
the RESIC recommendations
underpin the $35 billion of
mining and energy resources
projects identified in the IDS,
that could come into operation
during the next 10-15 years.
"By commissioning
the IDS and then
undertaking consultation
with industry and the
community on RESIC's
recommendations, we have
identified priorities and also
determined what is needed
to demonstrate a sound
business case for investors.
"
The Minister said the
community consultation process
on the recommendations
involved public meetings
at Port Pirie, Whyalla, Port
Lincoln and in Adelaide and
35 written responses were
also received. All findings
were released in August in an
independent analysis report.
"We have broadly endorsed
RESIC's recommendations
and will now continue work to
ensure we have the frameworks
in place to see infrastructure
developed,
" he added.
The recommendations propose
a range of priorities including:
• Investigating the development
of strategic infrastructure
corridors and utility hubs;
• Investigating deep sea ports and
transport infrastructure options;
• Facilitating electricity
transmission; and
• attracting investment to
support the sector.
"Our Directions Statement
assesses the intent of the
recommendations and assigns a
government agency to deliver
on them, outlining funding
and project timelines,
"Mr
Koutsantonis said.
"It will inform industry and
potential investors on how
the State Government is
supporting the development of
our resources sector through
initiatives that will generate
benefits for service industries
and regional communities.
"
Government actions to support
the recommendations include:
• The Department for Planning,
Transport and Infrastructure
is leading preparation of
three Regional Mining and
Infrastructure Plans that
will consider the corridor
and utility hub concept and
investigate the need for and
location of Capesize ports;
• A Department for
Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade,
Resources and Energy (DMITRE)
case manager will work with
local mining companies, the
Australian Energy Regulator and
ElectraNet to accelerate 275
kilovolt augmentation of Eyre
Peninsula's energy transmission
network by the end of 2016;
• DMITRE will also lead a
series of initiatives designed
to support business to develop
'investor-ready' packages, while
also attracting investment and
development in the State, via
Invest in South Australia;
• The Department for
Environment, Water and Natural
Resources, through the FLOWS
Initiative, will explore solutions
to long-term water supply for
the outback, supporting mining,
energy and the community.
RESIC will be responsible
for monitoring the progress
of actions arising from the
recommendations over
the critical timeframes.
A copy of the full Directions
Statement including all the
action items, the original
discussion paper and the
consultation analysis report
can be found online at:
www.dmitre.sa.gov.au/resic
Linc Energy has released
estimates its shale resource
in South Australia is up to 233
billion barrels of oil equivalent.
In an announcement to the
Stock Exchange, Linc said two
independent consultants had
separately evaluated three
formations in the Arckaringa
Basin, finding they were rich in
shale oil and gas prone kerogen
that "may form the basis of a
new liquids-rich shale play".
Linc said the resource
within its 100 per cent-owned
Arckaringa Basin acreage
compared favourably to "prolific
US unconventional liquids
plays like the Bakken and Eagle
Ford," where BHP Billiton has
invested billions of dollars.
Linc said consultants
DeGolyer and MacNaughton had
estimated its unconventional
reservoirs in the Arckaringa Basin
were of 233 billion barrels of oil
equivalent, while another expert
Gustavson Associates estimated
it was less than half that, at
103 billion barrels. Gustavson
had also done a preliminary
estimate that conventional
reservoirs in Linc's Arckaringa
ground amounted to another 125
billion barrels of oil equivalent.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 SA MINES & ENERGY JOURNAL
8
INDUSTRY NEWS
Plan to support development of infrastructure
Linc releases oil reserve estimates